New Holland Dragon's Milk

The Stats
Style: Imperial Stout
ABV: 11%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.03/5
- Untappd: 4.07/5
- RateBeer: 3.81/5

"Dragon’s Milk is a 17th century term used to describe the strong beer usually reserved for royalty. This strong ale was aged in oak for over 120 days. The aging process extracts flavors from the wood, which contribute to its complex character. Hints of bourbon flavor perfectly compliment its roasted malts to produce a beer fit for a King."

After the pour, this sits black in the glass with glowing ruby red edges and less than a finger of light brown head.

The bourbon is sweet on the aroma and is soaking up some dark fruits and cherries. Some subtle coffee and vanilla follow suit and then there's a dark chocolate note and some cherry cordials.

I must say, that taste is speaking to me. The dark fruits from the aroma are here and the cherry flavor is standing out big time. Not only that, but so is the vanilla, so there is this delicious cherry-vanilla mash up that is working wonders on my palate. I'm happy to report that some fluffy milk chocolate has shown up after being absent from the aroma. The bourbon isn't overpowering, but it acts as a binder for all of the other flavors. The barrel still imparts char and tobacco with some oak. Coffee flavors are subtle, but still present enough to make you take notice.

Mouthfeel is full, but it doesn't have that viscous feel associated with big, barrel-aged stouts. Still, it is perfectly fine for the style. The 11% is nowhere to be found and this one goes down surprisingly easy for such a massive beer.

Dragon's Milk is a great BA stout that is sitting on your local shelf. It has great complexity with lots of barrel influence and many characteristics of Imperial and Russian Imperial Stouts, all while soaking in sweet, sticky bourbon. Not a lot to dislike here, so if you won't buy this at your local store, then I gladly will. It deserves more praise than it gets.

Rating
9.2/10